Saturday, July 13, 2013

Historic Dilworth Hotel sold to Boyne City investor

The
historic Dilworth Hotel in the heart of downtown Boyne City has a new owner. Tall
Pines Investment, a Boyne City company, purchased the 101-year-old property on July 13. Terms of the sale were not made public.

The
27-room Dilworth Hotel has been closed for nearly five years and struggled for
years prior to that. Signs of its physical deterioration were evident with
parts of the cornice falling off, the front porch in need of repair and the grounds
unkempt. Looking at the deterioration of the building led Bob Grove, a Boyne
City resident and president of Tall Pines Investment, to inquire about the
historic hotel.

“I
would drive by and I would see it getting worse and worse,” Grove said.
“Everyone could see that if something wasn’t done to preserve it, this
beautiful historic building that has meant so much to Boyne City would be lost
to the community forever. I didn’t want that to happen. I love historic
buildings. I know how important they are to a community. The Dilworth was, and
will be again, a historic asset for the community to enjoy.”

Tall
Pines Investment’s immediate goal is to secure the property so no further
deterioration occurs. That will include roof, window and porch repairs. There will
also be improvements to the landscaping. While that work is in progress the
company will be working over the next several months to explore how best to
return life to the property in a long-term sustainable manner.

Tall
Pines Investment worked closely with the Boyne City Main Street Program to
learn more about the Dilworth opportunity and facilitate due diligence. Kirk
Jabara of Fulcrum Partners, a Boyne City business advisory firm, provided
significant technical guidance over many months to help make this transaction
the reality it now is.

“The
goal of this project is to return the Dilworth to its historic use as a hotel
and restaurant,” said Hugh Conklin, manager of the Boyne City Main Street
Program, “but much work has to be done before a final decision is made.

“The
immediate goal at this time is to secure the building so there is no further
deterioration and begin to make visible, if small, initial improvements to this
historic structure. While that is underway, Mr. Grove will work to build the best
team with the right skills to help make this property successful. He is
committed to completing the renovation in the best possible way.”

Boyne City City Manager Michael Cain expressed his
pleasure with this new beginning. “This
is a huge step forward for not only the Dilworth but for all of Boyne
City. The potential the Dilworth has in
again becoming an important economic engine for our community can not be
understated. I have been very impressed
in what I have seen in Mr. Grove so far.
It appears that he has the resources, skills and heart to do what is
needed for the long term success of the Dilworth. I look forward to working with him in the
months ahead as plans are developed to bring the Dilworth back to life.”

The
Dilworth opened in 1912 and has been listed on the National Register of
Historic Places since the mid 1980s. In recent years renovating the property
has been identified as one of the top community goals. A feasibility study
funded through a Michigan Economic Development Corporation planning grant and
the Main Street Program, was completed on the property in 2011 and provided
valuable information for this transaction. No grant money or public investment
is being used for the purchase of the Dilworth although the Main Street Program
will help to secure all local and state incentives available to the renovating
the Dilworth, Conklin said.

“This is great news for our community,” said
Boyne City Mayor Ron Grunch. “Mr. Grove’s commitment to Boyne City and his
investment in our community are very much appreciated. We are excited to work with Mr. Grove and we
will do everything we can as a city to help make the project successful.”

The Dilworth Hotel is one of the
few buildings still standing that is constructed from bricks manufactured by
the Boyne City Brick Company, according to documentation from the city’s
National Historic Register application, which was approved last December. The
building received renovations and updating over the decades, most often
associated with changes in ownership, during the 1940s, the 1960s and the
1980s.

“The restoration of the Dilworth
will be a tremendous economic boost for Boyne City. It will serve as a catalyst
for our downtown, increase pedestrian traffic, vastly improve the entry into
downtown, and will provide needed hotel accommodations,” Conklin said.

The Wolverine Dilworth Hotel
resulted from the vision of city fathers who desired first-class accommodations
for visitors to the city, according to information published in “Settlers to
Sidewalks in Boyne City,” a history of Boyne City by Robert Morgridge. The
Boyne City Hotel Co. was composed of 46 shareholders, and its directors read
like a who’s who of Boyne City’s commercial elite: W.H. White was president and
majority shareholder, and other directors included his business associates,
William Martin and Ervan A. Ruegsegger. The grand hotel was constructed with
locally-produced bricks from Boyne City Clay Products Co., and $40,000 had been
expended by the time of the grand opening, attended by 240 patrons, on February
1, 1912. It is the only surviving large hotel from Boyne City’s lumber
era.

In 1935 it was renamed the Dilworth
Hotel after it was purchased by Wesley Dilworth. During the 1930s and 1940s it was the site of
the Smeltania Ball and fish dinner that culminated the three-month long fishing
event held annually during the heyday of lake and river smelt runs. Dilworth sold the hotel by the mid-1940s, but
it retained its reputation for serving the area's best
food and remained a favorite dining spot. The
Wolverine-Dilworth was the place to stay when visiting the area through the
mid-twentieth century, and among other guests, Ernest Hemingway is reputed to
have stayed here.

Mr. Grove is asking that all
inquires for comment or additional information at this time regarding the
Dilworth be directed to Hugh Conklin, Program Manager of the Boyne City Main
Street office, at 231.582.9009 or email Mainstreet@boynecity.com. Additional information of this matter will
be forthcoming through this office.

2 comments:

I am so glad that this hotel will be saved once again!!!! It is the center piece of this town and has great memories for many generations. Has anyone thought about the swimming pool that was off the side porch? Can`t wait to hear the plans for this grand BC hotel!